Reception children on teachers TikTok

[zingally]

This isn't my issue as such... It's happened to a close friend, and I said I'd ask on here... ;)

So... I was scrolling on TikTok yesterday morning and my attention is immediately caught by my best friends 4yo DD, who has just started Reception. She was sitting on a bench/log with about 5 other children, all in their school uniforms, watching their teachers dance around in Elsa/Anna costumes. All the children then shake their heads and smile in a very choreographed way. In another part of the video, one of the same teachers is doing a forward roll, with a little boy standing watching. The joke is that they're "performing" for the children and wanting them to judge their efforts.

I go and look at the channel itself. There are about 20 videos, of which about 15 feature the children. Most of that 15 are "this is what we did in class today" type videos, but some, like the one I first saw, are basically just meme videos of the teachers dicking around, with the kids in supporting roles. The school itself is named in the bio of the channel, and the school logo is their user-pic.

Speaking as a teacher myself, I'm pretty go with the flow. But I was shocked by this. This seems like a huge mis-step. To be using the children, during learning hours, to feature in silly meme-style tiktok videos... And to prominently feature the name of the school to the world... Seems like a huge safeguarding red flag.

My friend is pretty upset to see her little child on social media like this. She did give permission for her DD to appear in social media when they joined the school. But she assumed that meant things like a school FB or X account.
She wants it taken down/the children removed, but as an ex-teacher herself, understands how young teachers can make mistakes and doesn't want to get anyone else into big trouble.

I'm unsure how to advise her. Any script ideas for what she can say/do?

Why would it be a mistake?

Lots of schools use TikTok as part of their social media presence.

It doesn’t sound at all like it’s 100% definitely a school Account. Just because they’ve used the school name and badge.

as someone who works in a social media adjacent role. I’ll never be surprised by people who think they can use their employers branding and name in any random way they like. I’ve seen all sorts.
I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to find out a green employee did this without thought of permission from either the school or parents.

I's be concerned that there's no mention of it on the school website and that it's just this one teacher gone rogue.

We'll have to agree to disagree. If they are using the schools name then as part of any digital audit the school would be routinely checking these things especially if the school have notice traffic from tiktok on the Google analytics page.

We gave consent for our kids to be in school photos etc. However the school is very prudent. So far no tiktoks. Also anything which is promènent and may go beyond school they ask again, reaffirming consent and show us the content so we understand how the kids are featured. Consent can be withdrawn and if your friend is concerned she must withdraw it wholesale or ask fot exclusions or to see before things are posted. It feels like this school went ovrrboard

I’m struggling to see how this is any of your business, OP. There would need to be some sort of immediate or significant threat of harm to a child to justify a teacher living hundreds of miles away, who has no relationship with the school, contacting the head like this. This is very clearly a school TikTok account which parents have given permission for - what exactly are you going to be complaining about? Obviously if your friend wants to withdraw her consent it’s her right to do so, but it’s really nothing to do with you.

I don't mind my child on the school's FB.
Tiktok? I would withdraw first thing Monday morning.

I’d be tempted to message the account, and flag your concerns.

‘are you sure the parents, and your SLT would be ok with this if they saw it. Parents social media permissions is probably expecting the school pages, not your personal one. And this has popped up for me with no connection to the area so it’s likely they will too’.

That’s awful.
I’d take this to the top.
I literally can’t stand TikTok and I send me kids to school in good faith assuming that it’s not a part of their day.
I’d be completely blindsided and horrified.
and possibly think of moving schools.

its not even just a matter of privacy and security (although that is a HUGE concern)
but also, about how I just assume F2 kids are learning about the seasons and nature and phonics, doing cute and quaint things like sorting buttons. Not starting on bloody TikTok videos. And this is how we spend our taxes

Parents should stop allowing their children to appear in public social media accounts full stop, suddenly getting wound up that it's tiktok not facebook makes no sense.

unless the school is part of a trust with someone dedicated to do that role, then I’d be gobsmacked if any teacher at a primary school had the skills or time to do that regularly.

and even so, perhaps it’s not been picked up yet and like I said, I’ve seen all sorts that I’ve then had to quickly intervene and have removed / deleted / taken down.

Primary teacher here. This is extremely inappropriate. Report immediately.

I mean, I work for a school and it literally do this as part of my monthly digital audit. It doesn't exactly require much time or effort

Are you a teacher?

I'd imagine they're an SBO or something. I don't think they're suggesting it is a class teacher job.

My TikTok algorithm is infuriatingly full of teachers - I really must look up some other stuff to make it more interesting - who frustrate me in many ways from spending far too much money on their classrooms to giving advice after a year in the classroom.

The thing that gets me about the ones who film themselves actually teaching (almost all from the US) is that setting up the camera etc is taking time away from the children, even if they don't show them in the video. It's not something that doesn't affect them. I feel guilty if I do things like check reading records or send a one line email when the children are in. I certainly wouldn't have the time or mental space to think about filming myself.

Well that would entirely my prove my point

Surely all schools have admin and management staff?

I don't understand what your point is?

That teachers very rarely (if ever) run digital checks on their school

Did anyone think teachers did?

Yes